International Programs and Policy Specialist - 2025621

Are you a person of compassion? An advocate for justice? Someone who stands up for the rights of the vulnerable and speaks out for the marginalized, the exploited and the forgotten?  Do you believe in our calling as Christians to welcome the least of these and love our neighbor?
If you answered ‘yes’, to any of the above, World Relief, and millions of people around the world need you.
At this pivotal moment in time, we are rapidly expanding and growing our team to meet the increasing needs of our world. We are looking for people who want to use their gifts and talents to make a real and tangible difference in our world and the lives of the suffering.  If you’re looking for a purpose-driven career in which you can grow your talents, while also standing up for the rights of the vulnerable, we want you to join us today.  ORGANIZATION SUMMARYWorld Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization whose mission is to boldly engage the world’s greatest crises in partnership with the church. The organization was founded in the aftermath of World War II to respond to the urgent humanitarian needs of war-torn Europe. Since then, for 80 years, across 100 countries, World Relief has partnered with local churches and communities to build a world where families thrive and communities flourish.
Today, organizational programming focuses on humanitarian and disaster response, community strengthening and resilience, and refugee & immigrant services and advocacy.
POSITION SUMMARY:
World Relief is hiring an International Programs and Policy Specialist to play a critical role in shaping and implementing policies related to our international development and humanitarian programs. This individual will work on our advocacy team on policies of concerns to our international programs, with governmental leaders and partner organizations in Washington, D.C.

ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• This person will serve as one of World Relief’s D.C.-based representative on public policy concerns, helping to both shape and represent World Relief’s positions on policies that impact the vulnerable communities that we serve and vulnerable international populations. The person will work closely with World Relief’s Vice President for Policy and Advocacy and World Relief’s Director of Government Relations to represent World Relief both with governmental leaders and in media. They should have or be willing to acquire expertise on policy issues related to foreign assistance programs. Specific responsibilities include to:
 
• Build and sustain relationships with leaders in Congress and the administration and their staffs, representing World Relief’s policy positions in a biblically-guided, non-partisan way.
• Work with World Relief’s U.S. and international programs, marketing and strategic engagement division teams to ensure close coordination across different divisions of the organization.
• Research, analyze, and monitor international policies, regulations, and trends affecting World Relief's programs and beneficiaries.
• Serve as the primary lead on policy issues affecting the vulnerable populations served by World Relief internationally – at present, in various countries within Africa as well as Haiti, Cambodia and Ukraine.
• Play a support role in pursuing and responding to media and public relations opportunities, including helping to support World Relief staff to respond to media inquiries and responding directly on issues of expertise regarding international programs and policy.
• Writing and speaking on policy issues of expertise, including for audiences that include governmental leaders and church leaders and congregant members.
• Assist in internal systems development to strengthen the advocacy team's efficiency.
• Other responsibilities as assigned by the Director of Government Relations.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Mature and personal Christian faith
• Committed to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief
• Desire to serve and empower the Church to impact vulnerable communities
• Able to affirm and/or acknowledge World Reliefs Core Beliefs, Statement of Faith, Christian Identity and National Association of Evangelicals' For the Health of The Nation document
• 3 or more years’ experience in international development, humanitarian assistance, government service, and/or policy advocacy.
• Strong understanding of global development issues, including migration and refugee issues, poverty alleviation, humanitarian aid, etc.
• Demonstrated experience in policy analysis, advocacy, and Congressional engagement.
• Strong writing and oral communication abilities in English.
• Must be able to work independently and with limited supervision in a fast-moving environment.
• Must be passionate about seeking just, compassionate refugee, immigration and foreign assistance policies aligned with World Relief’s longstanding advocacy positions.
• Must be able to winsomely interact with an ethnically and denominationally diverse range of evangelical Christians as well as with media and elected officials.
• Candidate will work remotely from the Washington, D.C. area.
• Up to 25% domestic and/or international travel required

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience with biblical/theological studies and/or direct service to refugees/immigrants preferred
• Preference for applicants who are racial or ethnic minorities and/or have personally lived the refugee or immigrant experience
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in international development, public policy, international relations, or a related field preferred

World Relief offers a competitive benefits package and employee discount program for full-time, Regular, employees. World Relief is honored to be recognized with the Gold-level Cigna Healthy Workforce Designation for exceeding the core components of our well-being program including leadership and culture, program foundations and execution, and whole person health. ***Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing. For World Relief staff, strong commitment to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief is essential, and Christian faith is a prerequisite for employment, based upon United States federal guidelines provided in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.